Rapunzel of Sweden – Winner of the financial magazine Dagens Industri’s (DI) Gazelle prize in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden
Rapunzel ofSweden was nominated as one of the fastest growing companies in Sweden, last Thursday. An honour which is awarded only to half a percent of all Swedish companies every year by the financial magazine Dagens Industri (Daily Industry). During the annual Gazelle event in Northern Sweden, Rapunzel of Sweden not only received the Gazelle price but also was nominated “The digital Gazelle of the Year” in the county of Västerbotten.
- I am so proud of my heritage, the town of Umeå, Northern Sweden. I am so amazed over the fact that we have received such a multitude of awards and nominations for what we have done. I am profoundly happy and deeply grateful, says Ida Backlund, CEO and founder of Rapunzel of Sweden.
For a period of fourteen years the Swedish financial magazine Dagens Industri arranges Gazelle events in Sweden. The Gazelle Price is awarded every year to the fastest growing companies in the country. Rapunzel of Sweden not only received the county’s Gazelle company award but also the award “Digital Gazelle”. This award is presented by Google and Dagens Industri together and has been created to be given to companies which have successfully used the internet’s possibilities to develop their activities. In this respect Rapunzel of Sweden has demonstrated the best growth in the Northern Sweden this year.
- I am so happy and grateful, we have all fought like gladiators to achieve this. It had however not been possible without so many deeply committed colleagues, partners and wonderful customers, says a happy Ida Backlund.
In order to receive an award as the Gazelle of the year you need to fulfil difficult criteria based on the annual reports for the last four years. Among other criteria you need to increase the annual turnover each year and you need to more than double the turnover from the first to the fourth year. This has been achieved by Rapuzel by a wide margin. From 17 million Swedish Crowns year 2009 to 2012 the company’s turnover has increased to 80 million Swedish Crowns.
A journey in figures, laughter and tears which not only resulted in nominations and awards within the borders of Sweden. Recently he CEO Ida Backlund of Rapunzel of Sweden was nominated to be one of Sweden’s representatives to the IWEC (International Women´s Entrepreneurial Challenge). The yearly conference will this year take place on November 10th in Lima, the capital of Peru, in South America. IWEC is a worldwide network for successful female business leaders, created by Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce of Manhattan (New York) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ladies Organization supported by the American State Department.
Besides international awards Rapunzel of Sweden also has won national awards. Among other Rapunzel of Sweden and Ida Backlund has won Founders Alliance’s price Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2009) and Ernst & Young’s (Auditing Company) price as “Female Star of the Year” (2010) and both as “Young Entrepreneur of the Year”, “Growth Company” and “Company of the Year” (2008, 2010, 2012). The company has now then won another domestic award on familiar territory, the County of Västerbotten. A region which is very dear to Ida and Rapunzel of Sweden.
- I am so very proud of my origin, the town of Umeå. I am so amazed over the fact that we have received such a multitude of awards and nominations for what we have done. I am profoundly happy and deeply grateful. Such a lot of things have happened during such a short period of time, we have just built a large new e-commerce house in Umeå, moved into a new large salon in the middle of our capita, Stockholm and launched a multitude of new products. The prospect of now also building and spreading the brand “Sweden” and taking the town of Umeå and the county of Västerbotten out into the wide world feels just so good, says Ida Backlund, CEO and founder of Rapunzel of Sweden.
But the journey of the Swedish company does not end there, the vision is to grow much, much more. A work which means a larger expansion with more countries to target, markets to conquer and salons to open.
- Together we, Rapunzel of Sweden, will become the IKEA of hair extensions, and with my amazing staff who really believes in our brand we can achieve that, says Ida Backlund.
In order to be nominated for a Gazelle award a company must fulfil the following criteria:
- Have a turnover exceeding 10 Million Swedish Crowns.
- Have at least 10 employees.
- At least have doubled the turnover from the first to the latest fiscal year.
- Increased the turnover every year during the latest three years.
- The net result for the last four years must be positive.
- Mainly the growth must be within the company, not by acquisitions or mergers.
- Sound finances.
Rapunzel of Sweden is a success story. Something which both the name and the figures proove. Today Rapunzel of Sweden is an important and famous company operating mainly on the internet with around 40 employees and customers in 36 different countries. The company uses its own brand, Rapunzel® and delivers hair extensions, wigs and hair care to many people all over the world. Except for the large online business with head office in the city of Umeå (Northern Sweden) Rapunzel of Sweden also has initiated the Rapunzel® Store Concept, and the foundation Rapunzel vs Cancer.
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